Australian Dumps Stereotypes About The Land Down Under

May 16, 1989

Australian Brian Brenton is more than a little outspoken when addressing the typical cinematic stereotypes about Australia that seem to have invaded every American thought of his beloved homeland. Here are some of his responses:

*Kangaroos - "The one generalization that I would like to clean up right away is about the kangaroos becoming extinct. Not a bit of truth to it. Despite all the hoo-ha in the press about how the kangaroos are being terrorized and wiped out by hunters, it's just not so. The thing is, they're not a bit silly, the kangaroos. You don't find them out wandering around in the middle of the day. It takes a bit of work just to find them. I've shot some myself. But you've got to be licensed by the government to shoot them. And believe me, there are plenty of them left. You can still find them in groups of 70 and 80."

*Crocodiles - "There's only a small area along the northern coast where you'll find them. And anyone who ignores the warning signs - and those areas are well marked - and swims in the open water up there is not right in the head anyway. The crocs are up there and they will get you."

*Paul Hogan - "Actually he's a bit of a funny sort. I'll have to say, we don't exactly call him the average Australian. But he has done a lot for Australia."

*The Paul Hogan Hat - "It's called an Akubra hat. It's 100 percent rabbit's fur. I own two. We've actually had trouble finding them in Australia lately because they're so popular in the U.S. and Europe.

*Wombats - "Just a hairy little pig. Not a big deal, really. Very densely covered with hair. Not like the big wild pigs that can go anywhere from 200 to 250 pounds."

*Tasmania - "Some of the most gorgeous pieces of white-water in the world. Just beautiful rivers."

*Dingoes - "They don't deserve their reputations. Dingoes only kill for food. The wild dogs that are now cross-breeding with the dingoes are the wanton killers."

*The `G'day mate' hello - "I say it all the time myself. You hear it just like you might hear `hi' over here."

*The Outback - "Mainly it's nothing but saltbush with a few wild pigs and some dingoes. (Saltbush is a low-growing bush with thumbnail-size leaves.) And when it gets dry, nothing lives. The kids still learn by radio out there. The population is too sparse to think about having a school. And there's a big campaign on now to raise money for the flying doctors who serve those areas."